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Yankees look for way to get to Keuchel

Astros' Game 1 starter has had a lot of success against New York so far

Associated Press| on October 12, 2017

Photo: Gregory Shamus

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CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammates after their 5 to 2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Game Five of the American League Divisional Series at Progressive Field on October 11, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775053732 less

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammates after their 5 to 2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Game Five of the American League Divisional Series at ... more

Photo: Gregory Shamus

Yankees look for way to get to Keuchel

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Houston

Dallas Keuchel is tired of talking about his success against the New York Yankees.

It didn't matter on Thursday, though. It was an unavoidable subject for Houston's ace as he prepares to start against them in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series on Friday night. Masahiro Tanaka will pitch for New York, which is in the championship series for the first time since 2012.

"I've been asked that question like 10 times already," a slightly exasperated Keuchel said. "I don't know, I mean, we're one of only four teams left, so at this point a lot of guys have had success pitching-wise on either the Indians or the Yankees."

Unlike the pitcher, manager A.J. Hinch didn't shy away from singing Keuchel's praises for his work against the Yankees. He joked that the lefty will probably feel better when he takes the mound and sees players in Yankees uniforms. But he was quick to point out that Keuchel's success certainly hasn't been limited to games against New York.

"I know there's a confidence level," Hinch said. "And to be honest with you, when Dallas is right, he's confident against anybody. I don't think who the names are or who the jersey is, he knows he can get anybody out in the league."

More Information

Game 1

When: 8:08 p.m. Friday

Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston

TV: FS1

Series glance

Saturday: 4:08 p.m. at Houston

Monday: 8:08 p.m. at New York

Tuesday: TBD at New York

Wednesday: TBD at New York

Friday: TBD at Houston

Saturday: TBD at Houston

But Keuchel has pitched better than most against the Yankees in recent years, going 4-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 45 strikeouts in six regular-season starts. His biggest win to date against them came in the 2015 AL wild-card game when he and the then-upstart Astros got a 3-0 win in the Bronx. He struck out seven and scattered three hits over six innings to get the win in Houston's first trip to the postseason in a decade after years of rebuilding and losing.

"For that win in the wild-card game, it wasn't just special for me and the validation, it was special for everybody to go into New York and play that well," he said. "But now we look back on it and it's probably one of the most magical times that I'll have in my career and it's something I'll never forget, for sure."

Keuchel gets the nod in the opener after pitching behind Justin Verlander in the ALDS. Verlander, who was acquired on Aug. 31, made his first career relief appearance to help eliminate the Red Sox in Game 4 on Monday.

Hinch sees Keuchel and Verlander as 1A and 1B in his rotation, so who pitched first wasn't that big of a deal to him.

"Dallas is really good, so I'm not the least bit hesitant on starting him," Hinch said. "When we made the move to pitch Verlander in Game 4 out of relief we had the backdrop that Dallas was going to start Game 5. So I have all the confidence in the world."

Keuchel won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015 when he went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA before struggling last season, with a 9-12 record and 4.55 ERA. He bounced back this year despite neck issues, posting a 14-5 record with a 2.90 ERA to help the Astros run away with the AL West title.

Tanaka had an inconsistent September that included two starts where he gave up seven earned runs and was capped by one where he struck out 15 in seven scoreless innings before he pitched the Yankees to a 1-0 win in Game 3 against the Indians. He allowed just three hits in seven scoreless innings in his second career postseason game.